Hola, my name is Elizabeth Velasco. I’m a small business owner and the daughter of first generation immigrants. I’ve had the privilege of living, working, and recreating in Pitkin, Eagle and Garfield Counties for over the past 20 years. I know our community! I know our strengths and our challenges, and I have a vision of a thriving future. This is why I’m running for Colorado’s House District 57.    

I’ve worked in many sectors of our economy, from the service industry to healthcare. From the nonprofit sector to local government. I’ve served on boards, COVID relief committees, and organizations that strive to support all members of our communities. I run a successful small business and I’m a Public Information Officer for wildland fire. These leadership roles provide me opportunities to get to know the concerns of our rural community residents. My own life experiences mirror that of many in our communities. I understand the challenges we face. We deserve equitable access to resources and opportunities. We face an uncertain present and an even more uncertain future, and I have a vision, a plan, and the skills necessary to move us into a future where we are prepared, no one is left behind, and instead of reacting to crises, we are proactive and a thriving community and economy.  

 

When I think of the hardships my family faced 20 years ago, struggling to make ends meet, I’m sad to say that things haven’t changed much. The cost of living is so high that we can’t afford to live where we work; everyone from children to the elderly face housing insecurity. Too many of us cannot access reliable internet in an internet-dependent world.  Too many of us cannot access quality, affordable health care. Economic stability is under threat as drought worsens, wildfire season intensifies, and winters shorten. The ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic disrupts our businesses and schools. We need strong leadership that truly understands our community and is willing to represent rural coloradans at the state capitol. 

 

Together we can build a proactive, strong, resilient, and thriving future for all in House District 57. Juntos podemos, Stronger together!